Perching on the side of a roof, next to Saint Paul’s Cathedral, is probably one of the last places where you would expect to see the world’s fastest bird. Yet cities like London, Oxford or Manchester have been home to peregrine falcons for years.

With abundant food sources and shelter, some wildlife has found living with us quite beneficial, even though we have reduced their natural environments, and made it more difficult for them.

For millennia, our existence has been interlinked with nature. Although industrialisation and constant technology growth is trying to push this concept away, we cannot, and should not, deny this.

Down from our waterways, and up to the roofs of our buildings, from huge cities to the small towns of the countryside, nature has adapted in such way that has also enabled new connections with us. It is absolutely incredible to look at the animals that choose to live in cities, and how they have managed to adjust to our man made environments.

If we take some time to pay attention, we’d be surprised by the number of species that we have around us. In this story, however, we will focus on birds only.

Residents

As winter comes and food gets scarcer, most birds choose to migrate, taking a break from our cold weather for a few months. Yet, even though the conditions are harder, some still remain.

Ever present around us and seldom appreciated, the birds that choose to live with us have adapted to take advantage of higher temperatures, more food, shelter - protecting them from both cold and predators, as their natural environments are diminishing due to our continuous expansion.

I think the most emblematic bird that can be found in any city or town is the pigeon.

Having adapted to use our buildings as cliffs, and feed from our food waste, they feel just as home in urban settings as they would in the wild.

They have become so accustomed to our presence, that we barely bother them anymore. So often are they on the ground, and wouldn’t even move as people try to get through. It always amuses me to see that.

They are nesting close to us, and if you have ever lived on the last floor in a city, you’d be most aware of their calls, particularly when nesting.

Furthermore, pigeons serve important ecological functions. They help control insect populations, and serve as prey for urban raptors like peregrine falcons. Their presence actually indicates a healthy urban ecosystem capable of supporting diverse wildlife.

Even though the environment is not natural - the relationship of these two species has continued to exist, and, in some places, thrive.

Ecologists confirm that the reason the peregrine falcon is doing so well is thanks to the pigeon. A total of almost 2000 breeding pairs were estimated across the UK by the British Trust for Ornithology. Even more impressive, the survey found that peregrine falcons were faring much better in urban and coastal situations than in the hills, thanks to the food abundance, which in this case is the pigeon.

Although we might not see too much of a similarity between a cliff and a building, the peregrine falcons are oblivious to the intended human purposes of the latter. There are even wildlife cams available for different nesting sites in different cities.

Pigeons and peregrines have evolved alongside each other, and it’s absolutely amazing to see their relationship continue in our man made cities.

Much smaller in size, but a noisy and gregarious bird, the house sparrow is a regular in towns and gardens, taking advantage of our scraps and crumbs. The house sparrow is so successful that it has managed to colonise most of the world.

In urban areas, house sparrows can often be seen opportunistically feeding on scraps and rubbish, as well as visiting bird tables and feeders. In rural areas, flocks feed on fields of grain, using their chunky beaks to crack open seeds.

Sometimes, they’re seen sharing their lunch (or rather, fighting for it) with tits, particularly great or blue tits. Not only is their song beneficial for our mental health, but they’re also important in controlling insects populations - providing us a great service, especially during summer. Instead of using insecticides around our garden, we should try to attract more birds.

The robin, voted Britain’s national bird, is a symbol of winter. While in nature they’d follow larger mammals such as boars, and collect the worms left behind whilst they’d dig for food, they adapted to our environment, doing the same with gardeners - even earning the nickname of “the gardener’s friend.”

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If your city is blessed with a water body, be it a lake, a pond, a river or even channels, you’ll most likely get to see ducks, geese and swans. One such place is Milton Keynes, which is home to more swans than most towns in the UK.

These graceful birds are an indicator of healthy water ecosystems. Their presence on lakes, canals, and rivers shows that these habitats can support larger species and, in turn, many other forms of wildlife. They also hold a special place in various cultures, often symbolising beauty, grace, and love and they appear in European folklore and heraldry.

Visitors

Despite their journeys being full of danger, billions of migratory birds make their pilgrimage across the globe twice a year. Helping to disperse seeds, provide natural pest control, pollinate and transport nutrients – the arrival of these birds is often celebrated. The swallow, for example, is widely considered a sign of renewal and hope. In some parts of the world, having a swallow nest in your house is considered good luck.

Although our urban environments have increased some of the threats to these birds, by introducing pollution, power lines, shiny glass buildings and bright lights to their already perilous journeys - urban areas also provide numerous nesting opportunities. House martins, swallows and swifts seek cavities, eaves or holes in buildings – plenty of which can be found in urban environments.

One of my favourite summer visitors to our garden are the swallows. I have noticed an increase in these spectacular acrobats over the recent years – and am grateful that they have chosen to build nests in our open garage. It’s worth parking our car on the driveway for a few months of the year, to witness these impressive birds swooping into their nests at speed to feed their hungry young. Last year I was lucky enough to witness the birds leaving the nest.

We suffer from an abundance of mosquitoes and other biting insects here in the summer, and I’ve noticed a decrease in bites since the swallows have decided to breed here. This is one great reason to put up a swallow, swift or house martin box on your property to help support these amazing birds.

Swallows prefer a horizontal beam or ledge tucked away within an outhouse or barn – with a clear flight path in and out. Therefore, they tend to be more likely to breed in open pasture or under bridges. House martins on the other hand build closed cup nests high under eaves and are much more likely to choose an urban location. As they are on the UK Conservation Red List, now could be a perfect time to consider putting up a purpose-built nest box on your house. Who knows? It might even bring you a little good fortune.

If you have space in your garden – try creating a mud patch which you keep watered. This will provide nest builders with material. Swallows and house martins are clever little architects, making their nests from mud and straw. If you are lucky enough to have them nest near you, you can enjoy watching their aerial acrobatics as they catch insects on the wing and don’t even stop to take a drink, simply skimming the surface of the water to take a drink as they pass.

It wouldn’t be spring in our garden without the distinctive call of the chiffchaff – named so for its song. These birds are often one of the first migrant birds to start singing in the spring, often from the end of February.

Chiffchaffs are sweet little birds that can often be seen taking advantage of spiders’ webs in the corner of windows - which provide a concentrated source of their preferred food - insects and spiders.

It may sometimes seem that we are more disconnected from nature, thanks to the digital age we inhabit. This is why I found it incredibly heartwarming to come across this beautiful story from the Yorkshire Post, describing how three school pupils rescued a trio of young chiffchaffs and nursed them back to life. The girls spent nine days hand rearing the birds, feeding them every half hour and even trained them how to perch by setting up branches in their bathtub. It fills me with hope to know that there are others out there who are willing to give so much care to our birds.

Migratory birds are also increasingly relying on trees in our urban spaces. They use them as ‘pit stops’ to rest and refuel along their migration routes. In the UK for example, bramblings, redwings, chiffchaffs and wagtails have been seen in places such as supermarket car parks and residential gardens where trees are planted.

Redwings and fieldfares that arrive in Northern European cities during the autumn like to feed on urban berries, from trees such as rowan and hawthorn or shrubs like pyracantha and cotoneaster.

This shows that even just a few trees and shrubs can be helpful. Parks don’t have to be large to provide benefits. If you have a few hours to spare, why not consider getting involved with a tree planting scheme in your area. In the UK, the organisation Trees for Cities are planting thousands of urban trees each year ‘creating greener, happier and healthier places to live’.

Urban waterways also act as crucial ‘service stations’ along the migratory route for many birds, such as ducks, geese, gulls and swans. Spotted flycatchers can use rivers, canals and wetlands as a productive hunting ground, catching flying insects from overhanging branches. And several warbler species nest in vegetation along canals and riverbanks before migrating to Africa for the winter.

White storks have been part of our folklore for millennia. They have been seen as a symbol of hope and new life, and in European folklore they are thought to be the ones delivering newborns. In some places, it is considered a sin to break a nest - and a blessing to have one near you.

Especially in the countryside, they love nesting between people: or tall cement poles, on rooftops or chimneys. They especially like hunting frogs or snakes in the open field, and can be seen in groups especially when the farmers start plowing the fields.

Later edit: it appears that white storks are coming back to London!

Helping

The more aware we are of the wonderful birds that we share our towns and cities with, the more likely we are to take steps to support them. From planting more trees, choosing native shrubs and flowers for your garden and avoiding the use of pesticides and chemicals – every single one of us can do our part.

Here are a few things you can do to support birds in your area:

Plant native species in your garden and remove invasive plants that can poison birds and/or compete with native plants.

Try growing wildflowers – even if you only have a patio or balcony – consider planting native wildflower seeds in pots. They look pretty and help to provide food for the birds.

Dim lights at night. Consider lights with motion sensors rather than leaving on lights permanently.

Make windows visible. Try dulling the reflection on glass and place objects on windows to help avoid airstrikes.

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Avoid using pesticides and chemicals. This will help to increase the number of insects that birds depend on for their survival.

Try to reduce plastic waste. Plastic can kill birds through ingestion and strangulation. Consider reuseable shopping bags, avoid single-use plastics, and try purchasing non-plastic toys and decorations.

Put up nest boxes. Be sure to follow guidelines as to where to locate them to improve your chance of success.

If you have a barn or outbuilding, you could leave the door or half door open for the summer – allowing birds to fly in and make a nest site.

If you have a lawn, consider not cutting the entire lawn and leaving patches to grow over the spring and summer.

Get involved with tree planting projects – creating new areas of woodland and food sources – or consider supporting other conservation projects or charities in your area.

Even though they can live perfectly fine alongside us, their numbers, overall, are dwindling. If you’re in Britain and would like to help, you can provide vital monitoring through: Breeding Bird Survey, Garden BirdWatch and Garden Bird Feeding Survey.

Surely, we should strive to make our cities more inviting for nature. Not only will this bring more wildlife, but it will also improve our health.

Research has shown that residents of neighbourhoods with a high abundance of birds suffer less from depression and stress. A recent post by breaks down some of the research showing how living in greener areas leads to a lower risk of depression.

What better reason to plant more trees?

Conclusion

As all these myths and folk stories are proving, birds have always played an important role for humanity, through traditions and beliefs. They have provided inspiration for a lot of our technologies, that we take for granted everyday.

We need to continue to recognise that we are part of nature, and not apart from it.

As Sir David Attenborough has so eloquently put it, “viewing ourselves as somehow separate from nature is a sure way to set ourselves up to fail.”

Let’s embrace it, nurture it, and be the stewards that we ought to be.

Resources:

[1] How to watch city birds

[2] Ways to help birds in towns and cities

[3] Peregrine falcons and their city success

[4] Urban trees and migratory birds

[5] Swans in Milton Keynes

[6] White storks in Knepp

[7] Urban wildlife

And it made me look around at so many attempts of ours to tame the wild to our liking, to have as much as possible in our command, instead of enjoying it as it is. Today we will only focus on what is closer to us, and that is our cities that we live in.

We are struggling so much to make everything neat and completely sterile, yet we yearn for nature and we try to replace it in our homes with caged birds, artificial flowers and plants. We pave every inch of our gardens and streets, yet we save up so that we could have a weekend in nature now and then.

The solution is quite simple, and it involves leaving space for nature. We will talk about rewilding at larger scale in a future essay, but for now, let us have a look at our doorstep.

Green space in a city doesn't have to be isolated in parks and on the outskirts, but it should become an integral part of every street.

And in order to rewild as much as our world back, we need to make the most of every space we have. Nature doesn't only exist out there, far away from our cement surroundings, but it can and should be here, with us, in our cities.

Benefits

As climate change is causing fiercer heatwaves, trees will be absolutely necessary to reduce the heat island effect and make our lives more comfortable.

The current heatwave affecting Europe (Summer 2025) is just a drop of what’s to come in the following years.

Green spaces make cities more liveable and we can physically feel their impact. Trees and shrubs help cool down a city on a hot day, sometimes with more than 8 degrees Celsius difference.

Nature sounds and time spent in nature is incredibly helpful for our mental health, too, as confirmed by different studies. So why escape our cities with every occasion or imagine our life in a completely isolated cabin in the woods, when we can invite nature on our balconies, our streets and our gardens?

The health benefits of spending time in nature are well documented. Being in nature and building a deep connection with the natural world around us, often referred to as rewilding ourselves, can boost both our mental and physical health. Green, biodiverse spaces are great places for rest, recreation and mental reset.

Trees will also help the wildlife, including the migratory species that need a place to nest, rest or take cover. Swifts and sparrows, that are red listed in some countries, take advantage of the cover of the trees in their feeding grounds. Why not care for them, too?

Our climate is changing, and our green spaces become ever more important. We need green spaces to reduce temperatures in cities and limit the risk and impact of flooding. Places that are home to a diversity of plant and animal species are also more resilient to stresses such as drought and pollution.

Local action

If you live in a city or town, you and the communities around you can play a central role when thinking about rewilding the urban environment. After all, it's people who will visit, notice, use, manage and feel the benefits of the nature around them.

Recently, together with some neighbours, we decided to turn an abandoned corner into a little haven for everyone. Prior to it, people would just pile rubbish with no remorse, rarely clean after their dogs, and occasionally even park their car there, illegally.

We’ve planted some trees, shrubs and flowers. We arranged some borders to have it stand out, and we installed some bird feeders. Ever since we started, we’ve had loads of people passing by getting interested in our project. We even had people coming with bird feed for our station, so it definitely serves as an inspiration for others, too!

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Let’s get green

In this increasingly urbanised world - which isn't to say it's a bad thing - more and more people grow up never seeing a wild animal, except for probably the occasional rat or pigeon.

We need to leave space for nature to be nature, but we also need to invite it in our lives, too. Conservation shouldn't only be looked at just as building national parks, as we're risking creating these environment bubbles that can no longer exist without intervention. We should treat the system as a whole.

Living in a city is often viewed as the antithesis of embracing nature, but it doesn't have to be.

Nowadays, especially, it feels like we're struggling so much to go for shiny, high tech and complicated solutions, when we are completely ignoring what's easier.

I've seen projects struggling to plant trees on the facades of high rise buildings, and while it may be a viable solution in some cases, we should really focus on what's already there: plenty of misused space at the ground level, with not enough trees, flowers, shrubs or water.

One parking space can mean around twelve square meters of greenery - be it in a container or not. Let’s use that space better.

Recently, we saw Breda taking the title of a new National Park City, the first in the Netherlands, and the second in Europe after London.

Paris has done incredible progress in restoring the city - even making the river Seine clean enough to swim in.

There are many more positive examples for wilder cities, too:

Conclusion

When we live alongside nature, we end up happier and healthier. We get to help the wildlife. We might even end up rewilding ourselves.

Let us be the generation that plants more trees than we cut down.

References:

[1] Creating healthy corridors: https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/projects/success-stories/all/co-creating-healthy-corridors-europes-biggest-cities

[2] Urban biodiversity: https://biologyinsights.com/what-is-urban-biodiversity-and-why-is-it-important/

[3] Why should we rewild? https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/why-we-should-rewild.html

[4] About rewilding: https://www.monbiot.com/2025/05/12/pasturised/

[5] Cities with nature: https://citieswithnature.org/bringing-nature-back-into-urban-life-for-healthier-happier-communities/

[6] Urban trees and migratory birds: https://www.treesforcities.org/resources/how-urban-trees-can-help-migratory-birds

[7] Fiercer heatwaves: https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/01/27/climate-change-could-cause-23-million-more-temperature-related-deaths-in-europe-by-2099-st

[8] Urban green spaces: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/why-we-need-green-spaces-in-cities.html

Escaping to the wilderness is a dream for many, but few can simply abandon their daily lives for the solace of the mountains or the whisper of the sea. Yet, nature does not exist solely in grand landscapes or untouched forests. It can live in the cracks of a pavement, in the delicate arch of a tree outside your window, in the flutter of a bird visiting your balcony.

This is where urban rewilding comes in—a movement that seeks to restore natural processes within cities, offering sanctuary not just to wildlife, but to the human spirit.

The Green Veins of a City

Cities are not barren wastelands; they are full of hidden opportunities for life to thrive. Parks, biocorridors, and green belts act as the green veins of urban landscapes, stitching nature back into our daily existence.

Parks: The Last Wild Refuges
Too often overlooked, parks are among the last havens for wildlife in the heart of cities. They offer a space where people and nature can coexist, where a moment of stillness beneath a canopy of leaves can ground us in a way nothing else can.

From Vondelpark in Amsterdam, to Central Park in New York, Richmond in London to Herastrau in Bucharest, these green lungs are essential for urban life.

Biocorridors: Highways for the Wild
Already embraced by forward-thinking cities, biocorridors provide safe passage for wildlife while enhancing air and water quality. They connect parks, forests, and rivers, allowing nature to weave its way back into urban environments.

Take Curridabat, Costa Rica, now known as "Ciudad Dulce"—Sweet City—where bees, plants, and trees have been granted symbolic citizenship, an acknowledgment of their invaluable role in the ecosystem.

Green Belts: Breathing Room for Cities
As urban sprawl accelerates, green belts serve as crucial barriers against unchecked expansion, offering protection to both nature and human well-being.

Bucharest’s long-fought campaign for a green belt has finally borne fruit, proving that persistence can lead to transformation. London, too, has long embraced this idea with its iconic Green Belt, a buffer against the encroachment of concrete.

Cities That Lead by Example

Across the world, cities are redefining what urban life can be.

Singapore: A City in a Garden
Singapore is a marvel of urban rewilding, seamlessly integrating nature into its dense metropolis. From green walls and rooftops to towering Supertrees that filter rainwater and generate solar power, it is a beacon of what is possible when nature is embraced rather than excluded.

Dublin: A Pollinator’s Paradise
By reducing mowing and pesticide use, Dublin has transformed 80% of its green spaces into pollinator-friendly zones, proving that sometimes, less intervention yields more life.

Reclaimed Wildness: From Railways to Wetlands
Frankfurt’s abandoned lots bloom into wildflower meadows, New York’s High Line—a former railway—has become a thriving urban park, and Nottingham’s forgotten shopping center is now a wetland teeming with life.

In Harbin, China, an urban stormwater park not only prevents flooding but serves as a vibrant sanctuary for both wildlife and people. And in Liuzhou, the world’s first forest city is taking shape, a vision where buildings are draped in greenery, harmonizing urban infrastructure with ecological resilience.

The London National City Park

London became the world’s first National Park City in July 2019, with the aim of creating a city where people, places and nature are better connected. The city hosts 8.4 million trees, having a cover of almost 50% of green and blue spaces. Incredible wild parks such as Richmond Park, or rewilding projects such as the reintroduction of beavers in Greenford, Ealing are a testatement to how a city as busy and big as London can also find place for nature.

Why Rewild Our Cities?

Beyond aesthetics, rewilding is a necessity. As climate change intensifies, green spaces serve as buffers against its worst effects.

• Cooling the Concrete Jungle
  Cities suffer from the ‘urban heat island’ effect, where trapped heat turns neighborhoods into sweltering ovens. Green rooftops, parks, and trees provide shade, cool the air through evapotranspiration, and filter pollutants from rainwater.

• A Sanctuary for the Mind
  Studies show that even a glimpse of green space can reduce stress, improve memory, and alleviate anxiety and depression. In an era of rising eco-anxiety, access to nature is not just a luxury—it is a fundamental need.

• Healthier Bodies, Stronger Communities
  Nature encourages movement, social interaction, and lowers risks of illnesses like high blood pressure and respiratory diseases. It also eases the burden on healthcare systems by fostering overall well-being.

What Can We Do?

Urban rewilding does not require grand gestures—it starts with small, intentional actions:

• Install bird feeders, insect hotels, and frog houses to welcome urban wildlife.

• Let wildflowers grow in your garden or balcony—pollinators will thank you.

• Advocate for your city to plant more trees and reduce pesticide use.

• Support initiatives that turn empty lots or parking lots into community gardens or mini-forests.

• Engage in guerrilla gardening, reclaiming forgotten corners of the city with plants and flowers.

Every tree planted, every park protected, every space reclaimed for nature is a step toward a more livable, breathable, and wilder city.

A Wilder, Healthier, Happier Future

As David Attenborough’s documentary The Year Earth Changed so vividly illustrated a few years ago, when given the chance, nature rebounds - even in cities.

Urban rewilding is an invitation—to rethink our cities, to mend our relationship with the wild, to shape places where both humans and nature can flourish. It is a movement both daunting and deeply hopeful, a call to action in an era that desperately needs it.

Access to nature should be a human right. The cities of the future should be greener, more resilient, and designed with life—human and non-human alike—at their core. Cities should dream of becoming a place where a child can walk to school under a canopy of trees, and where an animal finds a home amidst the urban expanse.

A city with more green and fewer cars. A city where wildness is not a thing of the past, but the pulse of the present.

That is the city we should all strive to create.

Sources & further reading

[1] - Curridabat, now known as as “Ciudad Dulce” – Sweet City – gave citizenship to bees, plants and trees.

[2] - Rewiding cities

[3] - Urban rewilding

[4] - National Park City Foundation

[5] - Oxford University

[6] - Zoological Society London

[7] - The Ealing Beaver Project

[8] - Thomas Winward’s blog, Urban Nature Diary, is a great place for urban nature inspiration.